A 15-year-old schoolgirl had a lucky escape when she was hit by a car as she attempted to cross London Road outside Eggar’s School in Alton on Monday.

According to the police, the incident took place at around 3.20pm when the Eggar’s pupil was trying to cross the road through queuing traffic and she was hit by a Nissan Micra and suffered a minor leg injury.

The 51-year-old driver of the Nissan was unhurt.

There were no arrests and the police have confirmed that no further action will be taken.

The incident comes just 10 months after a 15-year-old girl was hit by a lorry at the London Road junction with Anstey Road, leaving her with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Monday afternoon’s accident has attracted social media comment, including from the girl’s mother, who confirmed that her daughter is “very bruised but otherwise okay”.

The mother suggests that the installation of a central island at the traffic lights would help children crossing the road outside the school.

Other comments (from other people) include a motorist who believes drivers should be made to drive more slowly and carefully, and that this should be ensured via the installation of CCTV cameras.

There are calls for more to be done to improve safety for pedestrians crossing London Road outside the school, and also advocating road safety lessons in school.

Patrick Sullivan, headteacher of Eggar’s School, said he was “hugely concerned” that this incident had taken place outside the front of the school at a time when it was “very busy” with lots of students leaving the site at the end of the school day.

And he warned: “Since the new road layout two years ago more needs to be done on improving safety at the crossing.”

He agreed that the school needed “to “do even more road safety awareness for our young people”, adding that last year the school ran road safety awareness assemblies with Streetsense Road Safety, who came into the school to talk to students about staying safe when out and about.

“In addition, all our year 11 students attended a Safe Drive Stay Alive event in Basingstoke in November. It is produced by a road safety partnership including Thames Valley and Hampshire Police forces, local council and emergency services,” he added.

County councillor Andrew Joy said: “It is a huge relief that this accident did not result in tragedy, but it serves to highlight the vulnerability of pedestrians and children in particular when crossing the road, especially outside a school.

He believes “education, education, education” to be the key to improving the situation, not just for the children but also for the drivers.

Mr Joy pointed out that while young people can be easily distracted by talking to friends, using their phones, or simply trying to get away in a rush, to the extent that the risk factor of an accident is hugely increased, motorists need to realise this and act accordingly.

He continued: “Specific road safety measures such as speed restrictions can make a difference but education and awareness, for both road users and pedestrians, are much more important.

“At times of school opening and closure there is greater pressure coupled with increased distractions. We need to get the message across that these are particular times to be alert, stay focused and think safe.”